A Thank You to South Jersey Teachers On World Teachers' Day

If you're a South Jersey teacher, let me be the first to say thank you for all you do. I know it's not always sunshine and roses, so thank you for your dedication to the education of our youth.

This week was the week during which #WorldTeachersDay fell, so that means I need to shout out a few teachers in my academic career that will always have a special place in my heart. These people have, however small the action, shaped me into who I am today. Now's my chance to express my most sincere gratitude. I know it wasn't always easy...

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To Mr. G, or just "G", as we called him, the former band director at Camden Catholic High School - thank you for letting me escape to my safe place to recharge every day even though I was anything but chill. I was always on another level in terms of my bubbly personality, but you let me be me. We formed a pretty close bond for those four years even though I wasn't in band for one second. You're the real MVP.

To Mr. Pacana - Thank you for always making Greek Myth so hilarious and for those dope bonus questions that were completely unrelated to the subject. This guy would get up in the front of the classroom and, quite literally, act out all the stories in our Mythology book. I always looked forward to his class because he made learning fun.

To D. Jones, my radio professor at Rowan University - Thank you for being the only teacher to ever pronounce my full name correctly and for pronouncing it right as I walked across the stage at college graduation (only graduation to ever hear my name without having to be told they're referring to me). Thanks for that, homie. Oh, and thanks for all the radio knowledge, too (obviously).

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To Brian Baus & David Cramer who aren't teachers, but some of the best college friends a gal can ask for, without whom, I wouldn't even know how to open Adobe Premiere. Pretty sure they taught me more about editing software than any professor ever did.

Last but not least, thank you to Mrs. Bazis, former 8th grade teacher at St. Patrick's. She's probably a lot of her former students' favorite teacher. This woman gave me some of my fondest grade school memories. She always encouraged me to be myself, even if it drove her nuts sometimes. Plus, she always let me sleep in class for a decent amount of time until she finally had no choice but to wake me up. Mrs. Bazis never tried to stomp out my individuality. I was a bold kid with big ideas and a confidence level not common in a thirteen year old. In addition to that, I had developed a high level of emotional intelligence. I'm sure I wasn't always the easiest to handle since I had very loud opinions, both a sassy mouth and character, and was extremely passionate about basically everything, but I did have the biggest heart and empathetic nature. She saw and acknowledged that part of me, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

A bit of advice to all you teachers out there: be mindful of what you say and do every single day, even down to your body language. I am so thankful to the teachers that genuinely enjoyed me and my personality. It made me eager to get to class and work harder for them, which I'm sure, in a way, made their jobs a bit easier. I can't imagine doing what you do every day. Just know that there's someone out there thankful for your decision to do so.

The Best & Worst States for Teachers

It's back to school time!

Teachers and administrators all over the country are welcoming students back either in person or virtually. This will definitely be a challenging year being in person due to COVID cases and protocols that need to be in place to keep everyone safe.

Being a teacher is a huge responsibility. It can be very stressful, and sometimes that depends on the district where the teacher is employed. There are actually some states that are not that great for teachers.

Wallethub put together a list of the best and worst states for teachers. They look at things like opportunities for employment, competition, academics and work environments.

NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.

In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.

Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

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